Thread: Help! Performance woes 2.2l

Hi, I've had my 2.2 ecu remapped by bruce davis and had a bigger intercooler put in and massive difference. I got a 130 and carry heavy loads and it's definatley a major improvement, a lot more torque in higher gears, great for overtaking and up hills, also I have a scangauge and egt gauge to keep an eye on things, have had it for about two months now and my two mates with pumas are getting it done after going for a run in mine. Bruce uses alive tuning in the uk. Personally I would only look at alive tuning or bell auto services from the uk, these guys know their stuff. Stay away from piggy back chips and go full ecu remap. Good luck

What Doc said....

Originally Posted by radrad

G'day all I'm in need of some guidance. The head of our family's much loved fender is on the chopping block and I need help. We have found the 2.2 engine to really struggle to tow our small boat and especially so on the longer trips to and from broome and around our home in wickham in wa's north west. On a recent trip we hardly reached over 90 kph (it was a struggle) and when you consider that it was for prolonged periods of 8 hrs plus it's just too slow and does my nut lol. Granted these are less than ideal conditions being very hot days with strong crosswinds but it's not something new and is at the point that we now have to decide if the 130 is no longer suited to our new needs and be forced jump ship to the Toyota equivalent with more power.
As a last ditch has anyone had positive gains from diesel chips inter coolers etc and overcome the towing issues? I have had prior experience with a steinbauer chip in an 07 ranger but didn't really notice the change at all. only when we installed a 3 inch exhaust did you really "feel" a change and that's not even possible with the 2.2 l because of the dpf filter????

If your defender can only tow your small boat at 90 there's something wrong,my Tdi tows my 1500kg camper faster than that. Pat

My big block Puma (2.4 litre) is well able too tow, @485 nm and less importantly 185bhp. With a low first gear, which comes in when towing and five more never had an issue within reason. I ease off a it in the heat 40-50 deg, however with PEL 500110 thermostat installed instead of LR 00 4618 standard I hope things will still improve. I have used Alive tuning for several years however Bell auto services are also leading in land rover tuning. Whoever you use, I would stay away from tuning boxes. If I want my Puma could runaway from V8 cruisers the ute type on the open road.

There's no point in a tune if there's an issue,if he can only do 90 there's an issue,like I said my Tdi tows better than that. Pat

My vote is for Bell Auto Services.

Had the first tune 5 years ago, latest tune in 2013. Currently at 450 NM's and 125kw's.

Has Decat pipe, centre muffler removal pipe, Alisport intercooler and the BAS.

Very hot day with crosswind cries out intercooler to me, has anyone done a water intercooler in a Defender? That's where I would be starting?

Liquid to air intercooler too hard,
On the assumption the vehicle is well maintained and does not have a crushed muffler, for example, I would be focusing on temperatures,
Upgraded intercooler
Exhaust wrap
Bonnet louvres
Better radiator

Anything to get heat out of the engine,

But I have no qualifications , rather that is what I would do.

P.S how big is the small boat?

I thought Oz puma was DPF free